1. The U.S. Department of Education's Database: The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is a part of the U.S. Department of Education. While they don't have a list specifically labeled "nationally accredited," their College Navigator database allows you to search for institutions and verify their accreditation status. Look for the accreditation information on individual college profiles. This is a very reliable source.
2. Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA): CHEA is a non-governmental organization that recognizes accrediting agencies. Their website lists recognized accrediting agencies for different types of institutions (e.g., regional accreditation, national accreditation, specialized program accreditation). You can then use the lists of accredited institutions from those recognized agencies. This is a good way to check if an accreditation is legitimate.
3. Regional Accreditation Agencies: The most respected form of accreditation in the US is *regional* accreditation. These agencies accredit institutions within specific geographic regions. If a college has regional accreditation, you know it's been thoroughly vetted. You can find a list of regional accrediting agencies on the CHEA website and then check their individual websites for a list of accredited institutions. Regional accreditation is generally considered more prestigious than national accreditation.
4. Individual College Websites: Check the college's website. They should clearly state their accreditation status, usually in a section dedicated to institutional information or accreditation.
Important Considerations:
* Regional vs. National Accreditation: Regional accreditation is generally considered more rigorous and widely accepted than national accreditation. Many employers and graduate programs prefer candidates from regionally accredited institutions.
* Programmatic Accreditation: Some programs (like engineering, nursing, or law) might have additional specialized accreditation on top of institutional accreditation. This is important if you are pursuing a specific career path.
* Beware of Unaccredited Institutions: Always verify the accreditation status of any institution before enrolling. Unaccredited institutions may not offer legitimate degrees.
By using a combination of these resources, you can confidently determine if a U.S. college or university is nationally accredited. However, remember to prioritize regionally accredited institutions whenever possible.